Joseph: God Planned It

God can even use the devil to work out good things in our lives. When life closes in on you, remember this: if you belong to Jesus, God is behind every circumstance you face. It had to pass across his desk and receive his approval before it came to you—if you love him and are saved by him.

Creation groans, Christians groan, and the Holy Spirit groans with us. The spirit life requires diligence—steady, earnest effort that's the opposite of giving up. We need the Holy Spirit's help to survive when we come face-to-face with our sinfulness. But remember: we will persevere; we win.

What gift would you bring to someone who owns everything? When Jacob sent presents to the Egyptian prime minister, he faced this dilemma - one that points us to a deeper question about what we can offer to the King of Kings.

From selling his brother into slavery to becoming Christ's ancestor, Judah's transformation reveals a profound truth: God specializes in using flawed people. His journey from self-centered rebel to selfless leader shows how divine patience and grace can reshape anyone willing to yield to His hands.

The conscience acts like an early warning system for the soul. Just as a pilot who ignores collision alerts risks disaster, we risk spiritual catastrophe when we repeatedly silence our conscience's warnings until its voice grows too weak to hear.